Reclaim Your Life from IBS

April 1, 2016
As a clinical psychologist, not a nutritionist, Hunt rightly sticks to her expertise and looks at changing behavior and thoughts, rather than diet, to improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, a chronic condition that causes such problems as abdominal discomfort and diarrhea. She spells out why and how an optimistic, can-do approach can help relieve stress. Instead of feeling sad or angry after a bad haircut, for example, she suggests a benign alternative, such as thinking, Maybe I didn't explain what I wanted very well. She also likes exposure therapy, sensitizing a sufferer to tricky situations he or she would like to avoid, such as a long car ride. As she explains, IBS shares symptoms with gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, celiac, inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, and intestinal parasites. (Pet owners, take note: she says that people who come into contact with dogs and cats may want to get checked for hookworms.) A book full of practical ideas aimed at helping sufferers deal with psychological problems that can aggravate their irritable bowel syndrome.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)